Explosion at house sends man to burn unit

Police and firefighters responded to the scene in the 15300 block of Vermont Street at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. After putting out a small fire they found the injured man and what appeared to be explosive-making materials. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER

WESTMINSTER – An explosion at a house sent a man to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns and forced the evacuation of several nearby houses Tuesday night.

Police and firefighters responded to the 15300 block of Vermont Street at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. After putting out a small fire they found the injured man and what appeared to be explosive-making materials.

The Orange County bomb squad was called.

"We believe that the explosive materials found were related to pyrotechnics and not to any type of bomb-making materials," said Cpl. Eddie Esqueda of the Westminster Police Department.

Besides the explosive materials, police also found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia materials. They were seized along with the explosive materials after a search warrant was obtained by detectives.

The man is at the UC Irvine Regional Burn Center, and faces charges that include possession of explosive-making materials and possession of a controlled substance for sale, Esqueda said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Westminster Police detectives at 714-548-3767.

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Police and firefighters responded to the scene in the 15300 block of Vermont Street at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. After putting out a small fire they found the injured man and what appeared to be explosive-making materials. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
Police and firefighters responded to the scene in the 15300 block of Vermont Street at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. After putting out a small fire they found the injured man and what appeared to be explosive-making materials. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
Police and firefighters responded to the scene in the 15300 block of Vermont Street at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. After putting out a small fire they found the injured man and what appeared to be explosive-making materials. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
Police and firefighters responded to the scene in the 15300 block of Vermont Street at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. After putting out a small fire they found the injured man and what appeared to be explosive-making materials. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER

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